CNN host Scott Jennings unleashes on liberal colleagues in fiery on-air clash before Trump takes office
CNN host and Republican commentator Scott Jennings engaged in a heated on-air exchange with a former Democratic representative and political analyst shortly before Donald Trump took office.
Jennings and fellow commentator Bakari Sellers - who have a history of clashing -sparred during a discussion with CNN's chief investigative correspondent and anchor, Pamela Brown, on the eve of Trump's inauguration.
The pair had joined Brown after President Donald Trump's last rally before taking office.
During a special edition of CNN Newsroom, Jennings and Sellers gave their takeaways from the rally.
Jennings said he saw unity in the Republican Party, a point that Sellers challenged.
They then descended into a debate about censorship, misinformation, and disinformation.
Jennings grew heated and accused Sellers and the Democrats of 'covering up' President Joe Biden's health status.
'The people in this country this year had access to more information and fewer gatekeepers than ever before. And I think they kind of liked it,' Jennings said.
Scott Jennings accused Bakari Sellers and the Democrats of participating in 'the biggest cover-up in modern American political history'
Jennings and Sellers were reacting to Trump's last rally before his inauguration
'They want less gatekeeping and more access to information, and they're tired of being told things that they - that we all can see with our own eyes that are not true,' he continued.
Sellers then cut Jennings short and pointed out that Trump spread disinformation by falsely claiming that he won the presidential election in 2020.
Jennings countered that he condemned Trump's actions after the 2020 election and brought the conversation back to Biden's health.
'I'm sorry, Bakari, your party just engaged in the biggest cover-up in modern American political history on Joe Biden,' he said.
'It's all coming out. We all now know that every Democrat knew it, and you and everybody else came on TV and lied about this man's condition. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear it.'
Sellers fired back that Jennings' claim was 'hyperbolic' and doubled down that the most significant case of modern disinformation was the insurrection on January 6, 2020.
Sellers then accused Jennings of 'sensationalizing' and 'minimalizing' the events that unfolded on January 6.
'Here's what I lived through. Four years of Trump, then I lived through January 6th. Then I lived through four years of Biden, and me and tens of millions of Americans processed all of it and went running back to Donald Trump because you cannot put the same people back in charge who just ran the country off into the ditch,' Jennings said.
Scott Jennings is a Republican strategist and worked in former President George W. Bush's administration
Bakari Sellers served as a representative in South Carolina and is an author
Sellers acknowledged that more Americans voted for Trump than Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, but argued that Jennings' statement was hypocritical.
'We were talking about disinformation and misinformation, and you accused me and everybody else of a cover-up when you sit here and minimalize January 6th,' Sellers said.
As Sellers made his point, he touched Jennings' shoulder before immediately apologizing in a cringeworthy interaction.
'I didn't mean to touch you, Scott. I don't want to go there,' Sellers said, as Jennings responded, 'You're doing it again.'
The interaction mirrored another awkward moment involving the two correspondents.
In December, during a debate about grocery prices, Sellers accused Jennings of only being '50 percent accurate' with his comments as he touched his shoulder.
Jennings quickly warned Sellers, 'Don't touch me.' Sellers attempted to defuse the situation by laughing it off.
CNN's NewsNight host Abby Phillip then told the commentators to keep their hands to themselves.
Scott Jennings serves as the Republican voice on the left-leaning network
Despite Jennings and Sellers' frequent tense interactions, Brown said on Sunday's broadcast that the two men are friends.
When she concluded the segment, she told the audience that they 'actually really like each other' and enjoy chatting about football when the cameras are off.
Brown then introduced CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins appearing live from Trump's rally. Collins poked fun at the interaction, joking that Brown would 'have to do some refereeing.'
Collins then said that she 'loved' watching Jennings get cut off, but quickly added that she was just joking and loved the Republican commentator.
